Judgment reserved on Mapisa-Nqakula’s urgent bid to halt her arrest
The Speaker launched an urgent application for an order that she can appear in the dock on a summons as opposed to being arrested which is expected to be heard next month.
Speaker of the South African National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Picture: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP
JOHANNESBURG - Judgment has been reserved on National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s urgent bid to halt her looming arrest on graft charges.
The Speaker launched an urgent application for an order that she can appear in the dock on a summons as opposed to being arrested which is expected to be heard next month.
In the interim, she wants the authorities interdicted from arresting her and the High Court in Pretoria heard arguments on Monday.
The court heard from Advocate Makhosi Gwala, for the state, who argued that allowing Mapisa-Nqakula to decide the terms of her prosecution would set a dangerous precedent.
Her team’s also asking for access to the state’s case in the main application, and for the court to take a “judicial peek” in the meantime, which Gwala further suggested is in truth an attempt at a "review via the back door".
For the Speaker, though, Advocate Reg Willis this afternoon stood firm in his reply, even going so far as to accuse the state of using “terror tactics” against his client.
"If this is how the Speaker of Parliament, the second most influential individual in our constitutional democracy if this is how she is treated well then the rest of us in this courtroom need not get our hopes too high."
Judgment is expected next week on Tuesday.